#1 - Unprofessional Email Addresses
You would be surprised at the types of email addresses that exist on resumes. Things like HotGuy25 or PartyGirl2003. How is a recruiter supposed to take you seriously? If you don't have a professional account, go create one! It will save your image.
#2 - Objective Statement
There is never value in you simply telling a recruiter what you want. They already know what job you are applying for. Instead, transform this space. Use it to provide a career summary. Think elevator pitch for your resume. It will sell who you are and what you bring to the table far better than an objective statement.
#3 - Graduation Dates
The only dates that should be listed on a resume are dates of employment. No one needs to know when you graduated high school or college. The most important piece is that you graduated. Dates have a way of opening up the possibility the recruiter could guess your age. While there isn't necessarily something wrong with that, age is a protected class. That means it has nothing to do with your ability to do the job so it shouldn't be part of the decision to interview or hire you.
#4 - Photos
The only time a photo should be included with a resume is if you are working in modeling or acting. My team used to laugh whenever a resume came in with a photo on it. In reality, it opens a lot of gray area. The recruiter can make assumptions about you based on how they think you look in the picture. All of those assumptions have nothing to do with your quality as a candidate for the job. It's best to only let them evaluate you based on the skills you bring to the table, not how you look.
#5 - Personal Information
There are still a lot of people that list personal information on their resume. Things like your marital status, hobbies, how many kids you have, or your social security number have no place on your resume! It would seem these things help paint a picture of your character. However, they really have no bearing on your fit for the job. Plus it opens the door to the possibility of stereotyping to exist. Leave it off entirely. Instead, fill that space with career accomplishments.
#6 - Every Single Job
If you have been out of school for 20 years, the recruiter doesn't necessarily care about the first job you held. A good rule of thumb is to only include the last 10 years of your employment. However, you should also think about what experience is most relevant to the job you are applying for. That is what the recruiter needs to see.
#7 - Salary Information
The moment you share any salary information you have lost power during the negotiation. Oftentimes recruiters will screen you out if they think you want to make (or have made) more than this job will offer. It's best to withhold salary history until you begin the process of discussing an offer. This ensures you get the opportunity to sell yourself through an interview before you are eliminated from the mix.
#8 - References (or On Request)
References are the biggest space wasters, especially if you are trying to achieve a 1-page document. Even simply listing "available on request" is a waste. Leave it off completely and use that space for something else. Recruiters know they can always ask you for references. In fact, their online application likely requested them already.
#9 - Mistakes
Double and triple check your resume for grammar mistakes and typos. Have someone else with fresh eyes read it as well. Nothing ruins your chances more than a mistake. Another area to focus on is ensuring your contact information is accurate and valid.
#10 - Full Sentences
A resume is not a place for full sentences. It needs to be brief, impactful, and easy to scan. So cut everything down to bullet points. Then rework it using great action verbs to make it succinct and detailed.
#11 - Multiple Contact Details
There is no reason to list multiple phone numbers or email addresses on your resume. All it does is cause confusion. Simply list one of each. Let it be exactly where the recruiter can best reach you. Your goal is to be easy to contact!
You would be surprised at the types of email addresses that exist on resumes. Things like HotGuy25 or PartyGirl2003. How is a recruiter supposed to take you seriously? If you don't have a professional account, go create one! It will save your image.
#2 - Objective Statement
There is never value in you simply telling a recruiter what you want. They already know what job you are applying for. Instead, transform this space. Use it to provide a career summary. Think elevator pitch for your resume. It will sell who you are and what you bring to the table far better than an objective statement.
#3 - Graduation Dates
The only dates that should be listed on a resume are dates of employment. No one needs to know when you graduated high school or college. The most important piece is that you graduated. Dates have a way of opening up the possibility the recruiter could guess your age. While there isn't necessarily something wrong with that, age is a protected class. That means it has nothing to do with your ability to do the job so it shouldn't be part of the decision to interview or hire you.
#4 - Photos
The only time a photo should be included with a resume is if you are working in modeling or acting. My team used to laugh whenever a resume came in with a photo on it. In reality, it opens a lot of gray area. The recruiter can make assumptions about you based on how they think you look in the picture. All of those assumptions have nothing to do with your quality as a candidate for the job. It's best to only let them evaluate you based on the skills you bring to the table, not how you look.
#5 - Personal Information
There are still a lot of people that list personal information on their resume. Things like your marital status, hobbies, how many kids you have, or your social security number have no place on your resume! It would seem these things help paint a picture of your character. However, they really have no bearing on your fit for the job. Plus it opens the door to the possibility of stereotyping to exist. Leave it off entirely. Instead, fill that space with career accomplishments.
#6 - Every Single Job
If you have been out of school for 20 years, the recruiter doesn't necessarily care about the first job you held. A good rule of thumb is to only include the last 10 years of your employment. However, you should also think about what experience is most relevant to the job you are applying for. That is what the recruiter needs to see.
#7 - Salary Information
The moment you share any salary information you have lost power during the negotiation. Oftentimes recruiters will screen you out if they think you want to make (or have made) more than this job will offer. It's best to withhold salary history until you begin the process of discussing an offer. This ensures you get the opportunity to sell yourself through an interview before you are eliminated from the mix.
#8 - References (or On Request)
References are the biggest space wasters, especially if you are trying to achieve a 1-page document. Even simply listing "available on request" is a waste. Leave it off completely and use that space for something else. Recruiters know they can always ask you for references. In fact, their online application likely requested them already.
#9 - Mistakes
Double and triple check your resume for grammar mistakes and typos. Have someone else with fresh eyes read it as well. Nothing ruins your chances more than a mistake. Another area to focus on is ensuring your contact information is accurate and valid.
#10 - Full Sentences
A resume is not a place for full sentences. It needs to be brief, impactful, and easy to scan. So cut everything down to bullet points. Then rework it using great action verbs to make it succinct and detailed.
#11 - Multiple Contact Details
There is no reason to list multiple phone numbers or email addresses on your resume. All it does is cause confusion. Simply list one of each. Let it be exactly where the recruiter can best reach you. Your goal is to be easy to contact!
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